Puerto Vallarta Water Sports
The Banderas Bay spreads along 22 m. of coastal beauty from Punta de Mita-Nayarit to Los Arcos, Mismaloya, and Yelapa in the south. Lovers of nature, big game fishing, and sea sports will find a myriad of possible choices to spend their days by the ocean. Sea activities and bay tours are some of the most prolific businesses in the Bay, and no trip to Puerto Vallarta would be complete without boarding on a boat and set out to at the very least explore the unspoiled beaches at the farthest end of the bay.
There are several inexpensive bay tours, the most popular going either north to Las Marietas or south towards Los Arcos and Yelapa. The range of options is easy on everybody´s expectations: you can hop on a mid-size catamaran with a group of tourists and spend the day snorkeling in Los Arcos, then visiting Las Animas and Quimixto beaches, getting free drinks, a nice meal on the beach and a little impromptu party on the way back for about $25USD.
How does that sound? On the other hand, if you crave exclusivity, more private options such as luxury yacht charters can be hired at your request. In this aspect, Puerto Vallarta offers a wider range of choices than Cancun or Los Cabos, where most big companies operate, and this may be the key to its increasing popularity. Fishing season for black and blue marlin, dorado, sailfish and Bonita peaks around December and January, attracting anglers from all around the world to these still rich waters during the Christmas season. Several fishing charters offer vessels at a wide variety of prices; we suggest you first go fishing for the right one for your requirements, lest you find yourself caught in the net of unscrupulous business dealers.
The most daring among you can explore the marine depths and hire a diving tour in the Marietas, the islands north of Punta de Mita, and home to a very special cove that remains unspoiled. Diving is a popular activity in the Bay of Flags, and several PADI associations can be found at virtually every beach along the coast. Indeed one of the most cherished sports in the bay comes with the winter season. Don’t worry, you just need your camera handy. Humpback and grey whales travel to the Bay of Flags every winter from November to March to deliver their offspring in the deep cool waters of the Pacific. A genuine show of nature wisdom by the biggest mammals on the planet that you will cherish for years, whale-watching is nearly a given during any of the bay tours during the winter months and another good reason to hire your seat in one of them. The beach swarms with proposals for all kinds of adventures. You won’t need to go in search of action, in Vallarta the action comes to you, nicely packaged and ready for you to enjoy. It’s a promise!